Liver Resection For Hepatocellular Cancer HCC

Liver Resection For Hepatocellular Cancer (HCC)

Liver cancer is the 6th most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Timely treatment of liver cancer can drastically alter the outcome of patients with liver cancer. Depending on the stage of the disease and the condition of the underlying liver, multiple treatment modalities are available for patients with liver cancer. The two most successful treatment modalities for liver cancer are liver transplantation and liver resection. A liver transplant is suitable for patients with smaller tumors with underlying cirrhosis of the liver.

Liver resection offers the chance of long-term survival for patients who have larger tumors but have a good underlying liver function. Liver resection is a major surgical procedure. Depending on the site and size of the tumors various types of liver resections can be performed. Care has to be taken to leave behind enough healthy liver so that patient's liver function is maintained after surgery. Liver resection can be done by the traditional open approach or by the minimally invasive (Laparoscopic or robotic) approach. Liver resection should only be performed by expert surgeons at centers with all the facilities for comprehensive pre-operative evaluation and good post-operative care.